課程資訊
課程名稱
 時間悖論
Temporal Paradoxes 
開課學期
 111-1 
授課對象
  
授課教師
 周先捷 
課號
 Phl1912 
課程識別碼
 104E07600 
班次
  
學分
 3.0 
全/半年
 半年 
必/選修
 選修 
上課時間
 星期二2,3,4(9:10~12:10) 
上課地點
 水源階梯101 
備註
 本課程以英語授課。兼通識A4*。。A4*:哲學與道德思考領域。可充抵通識
總人數上限：120人 
  
課程簡介影片
 
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課程概述

In this course, we will explore the following contemporary metaphysical issues on the nature of time: Do the past or future exist in the way the present exists? Are pastness, presentness, and futurity consistent notions? Do I have temporal parts as well as spatial parts if time is in many ways analogous to space? How can we mention the past if it’s already gone? How can we know this is the present moment? On the reunion of twins after a space journey, which one is older? Is time travel possible? Is it possible to kill one’s grandfather? Is presentness compatible with special relativity given that the latter allows no absolute simultaneity? Does space exist like a substance in its own right, or is it nothing but spatial relationships between objects? 

課程目標
 The goal of this course is to introduce philosophical issues about time, and to enable students to analytically evaluate views on these issues. To achieve this goal, the course relies heavily on dialogues, presentations, and writing.
Students are expected to learn how philosophers think about time. They are also expected to acquire abilities to analyze and critically evaluate views on time travel, and to develop and articulate their own views.
Each student is expected to read the assignments before class, attend every class, and participate in both in-class discussions and group discussions. In addition, there will be pre-lecture quizzes, designed to test whether you have read the assignments the lectures are about.
As for group discussion and presentation, the class will be divided into 5 sets, each of which has 5 groups. Discussion will take place in the second class session every week. Presentation shall go by sets. Group presentation will take place 4 times. Each set has to work out on its own a time/place for presentation (and debate) to take place. Presentations shall be filmed and uploaded to NTUCOOL as a proof. 
課程要求
 Each student is expected to read the assignments before class, attend every class, and participate in both in-class discussions and group discussions. In addition, there will be pre-lecture quizzes, designed to test whether you have read the assignments the lectures are about.
As for group discussion and presentation, the class will be divided into 5 sets, each of which has 5 groups. Discussion will take place in the second class session every week. Presentation shall go by sets. Group presentation will take place 4 times. Each set has to work out on its own a time/place for presentation (and debate). Presentations shall be filmed and uploaded to NTUCOOL as a proof. 
預期每週課後學習時數
  
Office Hours
 另約時間 
指定閱讀
 ■McTaggart’s Paradox
●McTaggart, J. M. E. (1908), “The Unreality of Time”, Mind 17: 457-474.

■The Problem of Temporary Intrinsics
●Lewis, D. K. (1986), “Against Overlap” in On the Plurality of Worlds. Oxford: Blackwell, 198-209.

■The Problem of Mentioning the Past
●Bigelow, John (1996). “Presentism and properties”, Philosophical Perspectives 10:35-52.

■The Present Problem
●Braddon-Mitchell, David (2004). “How do we know it is now now?”, Analysis 64(3):199–203.

■The Grandfather Paradox and Changing the Past
● Lewis, D. K. (1976), “The Paradoxes of Time Travel”, American Philosophical Quarterly 13: 145-152.

■Traveling in Multiverses
● Wasserman (2018), Paradoxes of Time Travel, Ch 3, Sec 3.

■The Problem of Special Relativity
●Putnam, H. (1967), “Time and Physical Geometry”, Journal of Philosophy 64: 240-247.

■The Problem of Space-time
●Maudlin, T. (2012), Philosophy of Physics: Space and Time, Ch 2, pp.17-24, 34–46. 
參考書目
 指定閱讀：
McTaggart, J. M. E. (1908), “The Unreality of Time”, Mind 17: 457-474.
Lewis, D. K. (1986), “Against Overlap” in On the Plurality of Worlds. Oxford: Blackwell, 198-209.
Bigelow, John (1996). “Presentism and properties”, Philosophical Perspectives 10:35-52.
Braddon-Mitchell, David (2004). “How do we know it is now now?”, Analysis 64(3):199–203.
Lewis, D. K. (1976), “The Paradoxes of Time Travel”, American Philosophical Quarterly 13: 145-152.
Wasserman (2018), Paradoxes of Time Travel, Ch 3, Sec 3.
Putnam, H. (1967), “Time and Physical Geometry”, Journal of Philosophy 64: 240-247.
Maudlin, T. (2012), Philosophy of Physics: Space and Time, Ch 2, pp.17-24, 34–46.
延伸閱讀：
Effingham, Nikk (2020). Time Travel: Probability and Impossibility. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 
評量方式
(僅供參考)
  
No.
項目
百分比
說明
1. 
 Two Multiple-Choice Exams 
40% 
  
2. 
 Pre-Lecture Yes/No Quizzes 
30% 
  
3. 
 Group Discussion/Presentation 
20% 
 15% (inter-group evaluation) + 15% (intra-group evaluation) 
4. 
 Attendance & Participation 
10% 
  
 
課程進度
週次
日期
單元主題
第1週
 9/06  Introduction 
第2週
 9/13  McTaggart’s Paradox: Is time real? 
第3週
 9/20  The Problem of Temporary Intrinsics: Are you identical with your past self? 
第4週
 9/27  1st Group Discussion & Presentation 
第5週
 10/04  The Problem of Mentioning the Past: How can we mention the past if it’s already gone? 
第6週
 10/11  The Present Problem: How can we know this is the present moment? 
第7週
 10/18  2nd Group Discussion & Presentation 
第8週
 10/25  Midterm Exam 
第9週
 11/01  The Twin Paradox: On reunion, which twin is older? 
第10週
 11/08  The Grandfather Paradox: Can we kill our younger self? 
第11週
 11/15  Traveling in Multiverses: What if there are parallel universes? 
第12週
 11/22  3rd Group Discussion & Presentation 
第13週
 11/29  The Problem of Special Relativity: Can there be a present time in special relativity? 
第14週
 12/06  The Problem of Space-time: Is Space-time Merely Spatial Relations of Objects? 
第15週
 12/13  4th Group Discussion & Presentation 
第16週
 12/20  Final Exam